Amigurumi Fun
To start off, I guess I'll define what amigurumi is for those who aren't familiar with the term. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures or dolls. Amigurumi vary in size, and appearance.
I am an avid crafter, I enjoy all sorts of different mediums and outlets, one that I've spent a lot of my time on recently has been crocheting various amigurumi. I often take requests for different forms people want to see, currently on my hook and not quite ready for it's photographic debut is a little red dragon. Some days I will make 2 or 3 of these projects in a day, other times it will take me a few days to finish all the pieces for one.
What I love about this form of crochet is that it's nearly all worked in spiral rounds, so there is less struggle working into a foundation chain. Not to mention somehow no matter what you make, they almost always end up cute which boosts my mood. Further, they can work up quickly so it's easier to stay motivated and have the satisfaction that comes from completing something.
I regularly find cute patterns for free online, or even just use my own knowledge of basic shapes and forms after all those patterns to create my own. For example I recently made up my own pattern for a tiny little "Noni" and used the basics design from another pattern to create my own pattern for a sloth.
When I first started making amigurumi, I used the recommended hook sizes from patterns, often a 3.25mm or D hook but found that I wanted a denser fabric where you couldn't see any of the stuffing inside and now use a 1.3mm(US10) hook regardless of the weight of the yarn I'm using. I also finally invested in safety eyes instead of sewing on beads or buttons which may have been my best decision yet! Overall what I've learned is that the patterns are a good guide especially when you are starting out, but it's okay to find what works best for you as you pick up new tips and tricks along the way.
Complicated as they may look, amigurumi can actually be a great crochet project for beginners!
Questions to ponder:
- Do you knit/crochet? What project(s) are you currently working on?
- Have you ever made an amigurumi?
- If you have, what did you find most challenging/rewarding? (I'd also love to see pictures!)
- If not, is there anything you feel would stop you from trying?
- If you were going to pick your own amigurumi pattern to try, what would you want to make?
:P i made something
A little jellyfish made by freehand 😊 her name is jewel. As she’s a jewel (and the only project I’ve ever finished under a year 😬 only took 3 days. Whoohooo)
@emotionalTalker2260
Bdeiwochwhojxbwoduebwvock it's so cute!!!!! 🤯🤯
@emotionalTalker2260
Yay dino-head jellyfish! (New species of jellyfish right?) I'm glad you finished a project and well done on getting it done so fast!
@emotionalTalker2260 wowwwwwww! Well done!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
Thanks mistyyyyy 😀
These are amazing creations! I love crochet. Amurigami crochet is so so fun! I have several half done amurigami around my house lol. I love bringing little creatures to life! Right now I am making crochet frog headbands. Crochet is my favorite thing to do. I like to throw on an Audible book and get lost in crochet. :)
@TypoQueenie
Amigurumi is so fun, only trouble is where do you but the ever growing collection of cuteness? 😆
As to the 'half done' status of some, I have a few dragons waiting for me to sew them together. I've made all the pieces but sometimes that final assembly takes me a while to complete. It's like I have to be in the right mood for that part.
Crochet frog headbands sound cool, perhaps you'll have to share a picture?
I typically throw on a movie or tv show when I crochet, and have often struggled to enjoy audiobooks, but maybe I'll have to try listening to one while I crochet and see if that works for me too.
Thank you for sharing! Happy crocheting!
@EmotionsListener
THIS IS PURE CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!
yes, I do knit and crochet and I mostly knit stuff (clothing items) for myself and my hubbs.
@RoshanaShabanii
Thank you! There is something about amigurumi that are just too cute.
Knitting clothing takes a lot of work and dedication. I used to knit little sweaters or hats for my nieces and nephews and things like that, but most of my knitting is blankets. Perhaps it's the 'having a giant blanket in my lap as I work, but I tend to knit more seasonally than crochet.
Do you find there is a time of year you tend to do more knitting or crochet?
@EmotionsListener
I so wish I could Crochet or Knit, alas the art of it never was taught to me and I don't seem to find the time and energy to learn by myself, even though I probably should! I always thought I would one day, when I will have exhausted my creative ideas in music, painting and writing!
Amigurumis are beautiful little inspirations, I never did any myself but bought a couple of them!
@WhenTheTimeComes
I was never taught to knit or crochet, but I picked it up one day when I was playing with some yarn and wanted to see if I could. I do notice now that I teach others, many find it easier to learn to crochet if they've learned to knit first, while others find knitting challenging if they learned to crochet first. I'm not sure why, except perhaps that crochet is more forgiving and easier to correct mistakes.
I do hope you will find the motivation and add it to your list of skills, I find it can be a nice hobby to do while watching tv or movies because it doesn't require as much visual focus.
Amigurumi are hard to resist, the trouble is when you make them yourself you can end up with more and more of them every day. 😄
Thank you for joining in and sharing your thoughts!
@EmotionsListener
Hey Emo! first thing I got onto 7cups today and saw your posting...hope you wont mind my adding a musing, a word or two..
I must admit I do not know too much about knitting, but years back learn the term - kintsugi
..another japanese word ...and for crafting too..
it means filling cracks with gold..in a way the vessel, though once broken, is 'made better' from when it was just "just clay"
hope you wont think im crashing your party! just..so much of mental health, so much of recovery and 'getting better'...feels like kintsugi to me
I love craft...and esp some (Japanese) words that are imparting/teaching me stuff...im so glad you are benefitting from it too..your creations are cute!!
and sometimes through stitching, knitting ...even one step at a time, we can make things better..the finished product meaning so much more than the toil we took to get across the Finishing Line..
wishing you a blessed September...and thanks for posting, once again
ps- sorry I waffled!!
@serenekite52
I love kintsugi! I often use it as an inspirational image for life, where instead of all the things that harmed us leaving scars, we are more like kintsugi, where all that healing is beautiful. I actually want to get or make myself a piece of kintsugi as a reminder of that. So I guess I can relate to your feelings there. 😊
Thank you for the compliment. I do find it amazing how a ball of yarn can transform into so many wonderful things. My uncle likes to joke about giving me "a new sweater - some assembly required" by giving me yarn.
No worries about waffling, I like waffles! 🧇🧇🤣
Thank you for joining in and sharing your thoughts!
@EmotionsListener
I've just started with amigurumi not too long ago and I'm obsessed with the process of making all these adorable things.
Where do you get your patterns from? Currently, I'm just searching the internet for free ones I can find while I learn.
Any good patterns or sites that you recommend?
@BeautifulWinter9949
The adorable things are rather hard to resist making more and more of. Originally I just did random web searches for free patterns as you say, then as I had started doing enough of them, I started making up my own.
You may find with time there are sort of basic shaping techniques used in each pattern which you can start to alter for your own ideas.
As for good pattern sites, I've found a few free patterns from the same site over time but none that immediately pop into my head as "where to go". I usually just go search "such and such amigurumi crochet free pattern" and then I like to actually look through the image results instead of pages that way I can find one I think is cute and hope that it turns out to be a free pattern too.
@EmotionsListener...hi i think that is the cutest thing ever! You are so talented! :) I'm so impressed...brilliant! :)
@EmotionsListener...hi :) if you're ever willing to part with any of your creations and sell them, I'd definitely be a customer! I love what you've created, you have so much talent!! :)
@Bubbleducky
Hello and thank you for your kind words. "Selling" my creations is probably the part I struggle with most, it's not that I don't give them away all the time, but I'm not good about charging people for them. Though I'm supposed to be making some for that very purpose over the next month, so we'll see how I do.
@EmotionsListener Yes, I know what you mean, that is why you called this thread Amigurimi Fun? Once a project or hobby is used to create products to sell everything changes so be aware. Suddenly instead of stopping when you want and starting when you want there can be targets and deadlines and 'oops I dropped a stitch start again' rather than embracing a tiny flaw. Confidence can flag and disappear when feedback isn't so sweet or complaints start to happen if something comes unravelled.
I know that heading fast towards the festive season it is tempting to look for gifts for others so lets see how we get on together?
Listening - One Step At A Time!
They are so cute!
I've tried it and have a few kits. I love crochet and amigurumi is adorable!
I keep miscounting my rounds and everything ends up a little off. I'll have to keep practicing 😊
@Jemima679
Yes cuteness - the "danger" of amigurumi. 😂
I've seen the kits, one thing I've found with many of the kits however is that they seem include yarn that isn't as good quality as I otherwise have which always leaves me a bit disappointed.
One thing as you say that is very important with amigurumi is using a stitch marker at the begging of each round and counting very carefully. I regularly count all the stitches in each row before starting the next just to be sure. Sure it can take a moment but when one extra stitch can throw off the entire pattern I find it's worth that extra moment each round.
I hope you keep practicing and end up with lots of cute creations! Is there on in particular you really want to make? Or, maybe if you finish one you can share a picture here?
Thank you for joining in and sharing your experiences!